Inkstand



Patented May 31, 1938 v.;-

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc INKSTAND Application September 16, 1936,Serial No. 100,965

5 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-63) the cup 2| as illustrated in Fig. l and may be Myinvention relates to inkstands.

The object of my invention is to provide an inkstand in which air may beautomatically drawn into'the reservoir by means which first draws asupply of air intov the Well above the surface of the ink therein by anupward movement of the dip-cup or by a diaphragm which covers theinkwell to provide a sealed chamber formed above the ink in the well,and which when lowered will compress the air trapped therein and causeit to force ink therefrom into the dip-cup of the stand and support ittherein.

A further object is to provide a construction in which a dip-cup is usedand into which the ink is delivered at a point above its bottom andafter it has become filled, the surplus ink delivered to the dip-cupwill be automatically drawn back into the reservoir, thereby trapping adeflnite amount of ink in the ink-cup maintained at a definite heighttherein.

Referring to the drawing which forms a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of an inkstand embodying myinvention, disclosing ink trapped in the ink-cup.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view in. which the tube which extendsinto the ink in the reservoir is adjustable to permit the height of inkin the ink-cup to be varied and to adjust its lower end relative to thebottom of the reservoir.

Fig. 3 is a modification of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2,in which construction the trapping chamber has no bottom; the ink beingheld in the dip tube directly by the con1- pressed air in the reservoir.

I0 indicates the body of an inkstand which may be made of glass or othersuitable material, and II is the ink-well reservoir for-med therein.

'Ihe upper inner side of the well is increased in diameter at I3 toprovide an annular shoulder I4 which supports a disc I5 made of hardrubber or other ink resisting material.

I6 indicates a circular cover having depending a flange I'I which fitsclosely in the top of the body portion and its lower edge clamps theouter edge of a soft rubber diaphragm I8 onto the edge 0f the plate ordisc I5 to firmly hold it in position.

'Ihe diaphragm is preferably formed with its inner and outer edgeportions made of greater thickness than the intermediate part I8', asillustrated, to permit the portion I8 to stretch easily when thedip-tube I9 is raised in the act of drawing air into the reservoirchamber II.

The dip-tube comprises a tube 20 which may be formed integral with theupper part forming constructed to carry a smaller tube `22 which extendstherethru and is adjustable Vtherein to regulate the height of ink inthe cup.

In Fig. 3 the trapping chamber is not used, the

ink being supported by the compressed air in the reservoir. y

In Figures 1 and 2, anv air vent passage `23 is provided which extendsfrom above the diaphragm to a point below the same and serves to admitair into the reservoir to permit the air pressure to equalize andprevent the air from expanding in the reservoir due to barometricchanges or by reason of the air therein being heated by exposure to thesun, thus increasing the pressure in the reservoir and causing the inkto be forced therefrom thru the dip-tube. The passage 23 is fingercontrolled, it being closed during the operation of filling the ink-cupin the downward movement thereof, or if desired, it may be closed inboth directional movements.

The `plate I8 serves to carry the weight of the movable parts in normaluse of the stand.

The upper portion of the dip tube is formed with inclined sides asillustrated and serves to support a pen-holder in position to close theopening and to support a pen in the ink ready for immediate use.

The device operates as follows:

Referring to Fig. 3, the parts are shown in their normal position ofrest.

To ll the ink-cup the dip-tube is raised which causes the air in thereservoir to be rareiied and air from without is drawn therein thru thecentral tube which on being lowered, compresses the air in the reservoirabove the surface of the ink therein and forces ink into the dip tubewhere it is held for use. into the tube by said operation depends uponthe distance that the dip-tube is raised and the amount of ink that isin the reservoir at the time of operation.

I n the gures shown in which the ink-cup comprises a trapping chamberinto which the ink flows from its upper side, the air may be introducedinto the reservoir as described for supplying ink to the chamber shownin Figure 3, in which case the air vent is closed during the operationof raising and lowering the dip-tube, but I prefer to raise the diptube' with the air vent open to admit air to the reservoir therethru,and to close the vent during the downward movement of the dip-tube tocompress the air in the reservoir and force the ink therefrom thru thetube and into the ink-cup.

The amount of ink delivered l It will be observed that by the use of theair vent all surplus ink forced above the top of the dlp-cup in itsfilling operation, will oW back into the reservoir as the compressed airtherein escapes thru the vent opening.

The cost of making the inkstand is low and in use it functionsperfectly.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new:

1. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a reservoir formedtherein, a dip-tube comprising a trapping chamber located adjacent toits lower end and a tube extending therefrom to the lower side of thereservoir, a exible diaphragm connected to the dip-tube in air tightrelation and held above the reservoir to form a closed chamber, meansfor preventing the downward movement of the dip-tube and diaphragm belowits normal position of rest; the construction being such that air may bedrawn into the reservoir by raising the diaphragm from its normalposition of rest and ink forced thereby into said trapping chamberduring its downward movement.

2. The construction defined in claim l, together with; said dip-tubehaving an air-vent passage extending from above the diaphragm to belowthe diaphragm in normal open communication with the reservoir and theatmosphere.

3. An inkstand comprising a body portion havi ing a reservoir therein, adip-tube comprising a trapping chamber located adjacent to its lower endand a tube extending therefrom to the lower side of the reservoir, aflexible diaphragm connected to the dip-tube in air-tight relation andheld above the reservoir to form a closed chamber, a plate of stiffmaterial held below the diaphragm to support it in its normal positionand to protect it from ink, said dip-tube having an air-vent passageadapted for nger control and extending from a point above the diaphragmto a point below the diaphragm to op'en communication between thereservoir and outer atmosphere.

`4:. The construction defined by claim 3, together with; said diaphragmhaving its inner and outer marginal edges increased in thicknessrelative to its intermediate portion to permit easy movement of thediaphragm and to strengthen the said edge portions.

5. An inkstand comprising a body portion having a reservoir formedtherein, a dip-tube comprising a trapping chamber located adjacent toits lower end and a conduit extending therefrom to the lower side of thereservoir, a ilexible diaphragm connected to the dip-tube in air tightrelation and held above the reservoir to form a closed chamber, meansfor preventing the downward movement of the dip-tube and diaphragm belowits normal position of rest; the construction being such that air may bedrawn into the reservoir by raising the diaphragm from its normalposition of rest and ink forced thereby into said trapping chamberduring its downward movement.

FRANK vM. ASHLEY.

